Would you participate in this fundraiser?

Dear parents [of 1st – 5th grade Cub Scouts],

Did you know that, well before the Girl Scout Cookie Sale became big business (including a whole set of merit badges to be earned), Juliette Gordon Low’s first troop of girls baked their own cookies to sell?

Well, we’ll do the same thing.

Here’s how it’ll work:  the fundraising committee will select several simple cookie recipes, such as chocolate chip, double-chocolate, sugar cookies, and rice krispie treats.

Then, each boy will “sell” cookies to family, friends, and neighbors.  Strictly speaking, we won’t sell the cookies, but will ask for donations and offer the cookies as a thank-you.  Money raised will be split 50/50 between operating expenses of our pack and [other worthy cause, e.g., refugee relief].

After the orders have been turned in, each den will then spend a den meeting, or meet at another time, in the rectory basement, where, under careful adult supervision, and with strict observance of hand-washing and other food safety precautions, the boys will prepare the cookies, then deliver them to their customers/donors.  The older boys will also learn a bit about business as they calculate the difference between their sales and the purchase price of the ingredients.  If all goes as planned, this’ll be a learning experience for the boys, as well as an opportunity to raise funds.

Thanks for your assistance,

Jane the Actuary

Fundraising Chair

Oh, I know, this sort of thing would be logistically complicated, and raise a lot less money, relative to the amount of work, than the traditional sale of super-expensive popcorn.

But what do you think?

(And yes, my take on the debate is still to come. . . )